One of my absolute favorite foods is summer rolls. Although originally from Vietnam they are readily available at most Thai restaurants. I eat them all year round but they are so refreshing they make a great summer food. So easy to make and very versatile. Use these two recipes as a jumping off point. If you’re vegan or vegetarian just leave out the protein. Grilled tofu is also a great substitute. And they are gluten free which is important to me!

It’s without a doubt that food greatly impacts our bodies and overall health. As we grow older, our bodies and nutritional needs change. It only stands to reason that our eating habits will evolve as well! We look to food to keep our metabolisms moving and assist our bodies in fighting disease and illness. So, what items should always be on your weekly shopping list?

Summer is just around the corner and now is the time to kick it into high gear to look and feel your best this season! While maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine is crucial to losing weight, there are dozens of outlying factors that can affect your progress. If you find yourself at a weight loss plateau, don’t give up! As women age, weight comes off at a slower pace. Our hormones, our stress levels, and our sleep patterns in addition to our diet and exercise directly affect how we lose weight. It’s not enough to simply cut calories and hope for the best – we need to pay close attention to our bodies to overcome plateaus and continuously march towards our fitness goals.

Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer, is just 2 weeks away. We’re all going to be showing a lot more skin so here is my 2 Week Memorial Day Weight Loss Plan guaranteed to make you slimmer and tighter before the big day. Most of us have been concentrating on cleaning up the patio furniture and barbecues but we need to also concentrate on cleaning up our nutrition and exercise routine. So forget about buying the hot dogs and beer and let’s get focused on us.

Over the past few years, there’s been a spotlight on gluten-free eating. What was once regarded as a dietary restriction for those who suffer from Celiac disease is now a mainstream diet of choice for women of all ages. And as more people have adopted a gluten-free lifestyle, the easier it has become to follow. Supermarkets stock their shelves with approved foods and snacks. The Internet is riddled with recipes and fun ideas to recreate favorite foods in a compliant way. Is it for you?

Throughout the years, I’ve tried it all – fad diets, crash diets, supplements, cleanses, calorie counting and more! The benefit of having tried everything is that I know what actually works for me and when I can expect results. One thing that has always helped me to jump start my metabolism and maintain a healthy lifestyle is timed fasting.

I love versatile foods that can be cooked and served in various ways. One of my favorites is quiche. It’s an old standard and many people still chuckle about it but I love it. A traditional quiche starts with a buttery crust and a filling loaded with cream, lots of cheese, and typically ham. The beauty of a quiche is that you can vary the filling to make it much healthier. You can use lots of veggies which greatly increases the nutritional value and helps to fill you up. And let’s not forget how delicious a veggie quiche can be. You can use any vegetable — asparagus, broccoli, and zucchini are popular but I much prefer spinach. But the biggest calorie and carb saver is eliminating the crust which is typically made from white flour and lots of butter.

Every night on my way to bed I would grab a big handful of gluten free crackers and stuff them in my face. If you read my New Year’s post on Making Changes you’ll see that I listed eliminating this practice as a 2018 goal (it was on the 2017 list too!) It seemed that no matter how hard I tried to resist this habit, nothing worked. I decided that the best way to stop was to make a plan. And I wanted a plan that would not only stop this one bad habit, but one that would also stop me from eating like an animal at night. Of everything I tried, here are the six most effective ways that helped me stop stuffing my face late in the day.

In theory I love to make all my food from scratch but that’s just not realistic. With a little thought it is possible to eat healthy at home. Always being prepared is the answer. I keep many different meal ingredients in my home so I can always make something quick, easy and nutritious. One of my favorite things to keep in my refrigerator is a rotisserie chicken. These are readily available at most supermarkets and delis. While true that they are usually prepared with a seasoning high in sugar and salt, but there are ways to improve the nutrition numbers of a store bought bird.

As you all know, I follow a fairly regimented nutrition and exercise plan. That being said there are certain days of the year when I allow myself special treats. Notice I said treats and not cheats. When I have something I want to eat or drink I never think I’m cheating. I’m simply having something I want and it’s usually been built into my plan by doing a little pre-planning which I write about all the time. Valentine’s Day is one of those special days of the year and these yummy cocktails fit right in as they are all under 100 calories!